Back to the Future: Search is on for the Gibson guitar that was last seen in 1985
The guitar took center stage during the iconic 'Enchantment Under the Sea' school dance scene, which quickly became a pop culture classic.
Michael J. Fox in Back to the Future with the now-missing guitar. Picture: Supplied
Due to leading actors hogging all the attention, people often overlook everything in the background, including props in a film.
Yet, Gibson, makers of musical instruments, are searching for the Cherry Red Gibson ES-345 guitar that was part of the Back to the Future movie.
Gibson has enlisted some of the film's cast to assist with the search.
'We need your help,' lead-actor Michael J Fox says in a video where he and his cast mates including Christopher Lloyd (Doc Brown) and Leah Thompson (Lorraine Baines McFly) ask for the public's help to find the iconic instrument.
During the making of the 1989 sequel to the film, the filmmakers searched for the guitar, but it was nowhere to be found.
Now, music fans worldwide have the chance to help Gibson find what's considered the most iconic guitar in cinema history.
Back To The Future was released on 3 July 1985. It won an Academy Award and received three additional nominations, launching a franchise that would go on to earn almost $1 billion globally.
The search for the guitar coincides with the film's 40th anniversary, and the makers of the guitar are working on a documentary titled 'Lost To The Future'.
The doccie will transport viewers back to 1985, celebrating the music, culture, and defining moments of the era through a rich collection of archival photos, stories, film clips, and iconic songs.
ALSO READ: Lord of the Rings strikes again! Inside Lebo M's latest engagement and marriage chronicles
The iconic scene
In the iconic film, the guitar got time to shine in the 'Enchantment Under the Sea' school dance scene, which instantly became a pop culture moment.
Leading man Fox said he was happy with the scene because it allowed him to pay homage to his favourite guitarists.
'I'm really happy with the scene because it was an expression of my love for the guitar and all the great players,' he said.
He mentions the likes of Jimi Hendrix playing it behind the head, Pete Townshend doing a windmill, and the Eddie (Van Halen) hammer thing.
'I didn't realise the influence the scene had on people, John Mayer said, 'I play guitar because of you,' and Chris Martin said the same thing, and I am glad they took it further than I did; they went to the trouble of being really good players. I just love the guitar, and I love the movie.'
'When we talked about the 'Enchantment Under The Sea' scene in Back to the Future, I sat down with the cinematographer and choreographer and said I want to riff through all of my favourite guitarists,' shared Fox.
'It was so cool that they were open to that, and we laid it all out there.'
NOW READ: Why modern cinemas are failing to keep audiences happy
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
a day ago
- The South African
Rasta faces fresh backlash over controversial new portrait of Presley Chweneyagae
Controversial Zimbabwean-born portrait artist Lebani Sirenje, famously known as Rasta, is back in the spotlight, and so is the criticism. This time, the target of his brush is the late actor Presley Chweneyagae, best known for his lead role in Tsotsi. Rasta unveiled the painting of Chweneyagae this week, and while some praised his effort, many social media users found the piece unrecognisable. ' Whether you love or question his work, one thing's for sure- Rasta shows up to honour our legends,' posted Tinashe Eugene Mushanguri on Facebook. 'Who is this supposed to be?' asked one user on Facebook, referring to the painting. He joked, 'Rasta has to be stopped. Seriously, we need a petition.' This isn't Rasta's first run-in with public scrutiny. Over the years, Rasta painted countless public figures, often at funerals or memorials, and each time, Mzansi has something to say. From Winnie Madikizela-Mandela to Oliver Mtukudzi, his art tends to trend, sometimes for the wrong reasons. But Rasta has always stood by his work. As the Presley portrait continues to trend, one thing is clear: Rasta's work, however it's received, has become part of South Africa's cultural fabric. Chweneyagae, affectionately known to many as 'Cobrizi' or 'Mokwepa,' passed away last week at his home in the city. He was 40. Chweneyagae rose to fame for his powerful performance in Tsotsi , the gritty South African drama that went on to win the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2006. You've probably seen a Rasta painting. But before all that, he was just a kid in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, born in 1977, drawing whatever caught his eye. He started sketching around age seven and never really looked back. No art degree, no formal training, just years of practice. More than ten years ago, he crossed the border into South Africa, like a lot of Zimbabweans trying to find something more. That's when he went pro. These days, he's known for painting portraits of famous people, mostly after they die, and like it or not, his work always gets a reaction. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
a day ago
- IOL News
Presley Chweneyagae's funeral: Warren Masemola and 'The River' cast honour the iconic actor
Award-winning actor Presley Chweneyagae's funeral was held at the Akasia Community Hall on Saturday. Image: X Beloved actor Presley Chweneyagae was given a heartfelt send-off during his funeral service which took place in Pretoria on Saturday, June 7. Following a memorial service in his home town of Mahikeng in the North West, on Tuesday, June 5 and a second one at The South African State Theatre, the ceremony took place at the Akasia Community Hall before he was laid to rest at the Zandfontein Cemetery. The actor, who rose to fame in the Academy Award-winning film, "Tsotsi", died on May 27 at the age of 40 of natural causes after sudden respiratory complications. He was also renowned for his theatre work, for playing the iconic Thuso 'Cobra' Mokoena on 'The River' and his role in the Nelson Mandela biopic 'Long Walk to Freedom.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The Oscar-winner's funeral was attended by scores of mourners, including his wife and children, other family members, friends, industry colleagues, government officials and other distinguished guests. Actress Rami Chune presided over the proceedings while other stars who were in attendence included Dr Jerry Mofokeng, Warren Masemola and Oros Mampofu. Meanwhile, several of Chweneyagae's 'The River' co stars, such as Thembinkosi Mthembu and Winnie Mashaba, were also at the funeral. One of the most poignant moments of the ceremony was when Chweneyagae's wife, Charlaine Kirk as well as their sons, Preston and Aston delivered their tributes to him through a video feed which was played at the funeral. Kirk explained how she met the actor when she arrived from Swaziland to Pretoria in 2007 to study. 'He was a funny, loving guy and he very ambitious,' she said in the video. 'He was also a soft and gentle man who was very humble and respectful.' Kirk also descibed her husband's work ethic as 'unmatched.' 'He took his craft seriously and he have it everything.' 'On his bad days, he still used to make the whole country laugh.' She added: 'He was also a risk taker who taught me to push for the things that I want.' Kirk also described Chweneyagae as a man who 'loved his fans and community.' 'Presley really loved the people around him, not just his family and friends, he just loved people across the board.' Meanwhile, in a separate part of the video tribute, his sons, who could only be heard through audio, spoke of the best memories they had with their father, included how they loved listening to music together and how theey enjoying the times when he would drop them off at school. They also reflected on Chweneyagae's many achievements, declaring how proud they are of their father. Another powerful moment at the ceremony was when Masemola delivered a powerful speech to his dear friend and co-star, who he worked with on 'The Number.' Warren Masemola, who was a close friend to Presley Chweneyagae, speaking on stage during the late actor's funeral. Image: X The renowned 'Scandal!' star, together with Chweneyagae's colleugues from 'The River' and other entertainment industry figures, formed a guard of honour for the acting icon. Many of them were emotional as they stood on stage, embracing eachother as they sang along to the melodic sounds of the choir. In tears, he then took to the stage to describe his deep friendship with Chweneyagae and how he is still struggling to cope with his death. 'Presley and I fought a lot . I don't understand people who don't fight with their friends or the people they claim their love,' he said. 'We fought about love, life, work, professionalism, children, wives, family, we just fought all of the time but he was my friend and we loved each other a lot.' Meanwhile, Bonga Vilakazi, the producer of 'The River' also delivered a moving speech at the funeral. 'I am representing family, not born out of blood but of long days, of shared dreams and stories by the passionate and talented people from the cast and crew of 'The River.' 'When you spend 12 hour days together, five to six days a week for almost a decade, you become a family. You learn people's habits, their moods their silences and you celebrate their wins and you are there for each other in times of sorrow.' He added: 'I struggled to find the words for today because how do you sum up someone as great as Presley? He was a layered man, who has made enormous contributions. There was dazzling and uncontainable light within him but there were shadows too.' 'I don't say that to focus on the shadows but as a way to reflect the fullness of his humanity.' 'Presley was a man who felt things deeply, who who went through things that people often overlook but he always showed up and he still gave us his art, his generosity, his humour and his friendship.' Vilakazi also spoke of Chweneyagae's mischievousness and how he would befriend the drivers. The producer also adressed his family. 'To Presley's family, you love Presley and he loved you deeply. You are the reason he got through dark moments. 'Without you, we would have never have had the privilege of loving the man behind the magic. 'To his kids, may you always know your father was a rare soul and one of the greatest to ever do it.' Vilakazi concluded: 'May Presley's legacy not only be through re-runs of his shows but may we also honour through the loyalties that he so rich deserved so that his loved ones can carry on a dignity. Rest in peace Presley, we will never forget you.'
IOL News
2 days ago
- IOL News
Reel tribute: celebrating Presley Chweneyagae's Oscar-winning legacy with special screenings
DStv and Showmax have organised special screenings of his most notable works, including the film that catapulted him to stardom, " Tsotsi ". Chweneyagae died of natural causes on May 27. The South African entertainment industry recently lost one of the country's most iconic talents: Presley Chweneyagae . In the week following his death, two memorial services were held to celebrate Chweneyagae's life and career, giving friends, family and fans a space to honour the legacy of the versatile actor. His contribution to the arts has left an indelible mark, with "Tsotsi" standing as a notable highlight. This film, directed by Gavin Hood and based on Athol Fugard's acclaimed novel, follows the journey of a young boy navigating the harsh realities of life in Johannesburg's townships. "Tsotsi" tells the poignant story of a car thief who finds a baby in the stolen vehicle, forcing him to confront his own life choices. The film not only gained critical acclaim but also earned Chweneyagae an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. "Tsotsi" stars Chweneyagae alongside Terry Pheto, Kenneth Nkosi, Jerry Mofokeng and Rapulana Seiphemo. The film began its Oscar journey with victories at the Edinburgh Film Festival and the People's Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival, culminating in a heartwarming moment at the 2006 Oscars when Will Smith presented the Best Foreign Language Film award to a visibly emotional Gavin Hood.
